[Goes into the house. Pause. Falk and Svan-
HiLD look shyly at each other.
You are so pale.
Falk.
svanhild.
And you so silent.
Falk.
True.
Svanhild.
He smote us hardest.
Falk.
[To himself.]
Stole my armour, too.
466 LOVE'S COMEDY [act iii
SVANHILD.
What blows he struck!
Falk.
He knew to place them well.
SVANHILD.
All seemed to go to pieces where they fell.
[Coming nearer to him.
How rich in one another's wealth before
We were, when all had left us in despite,
And Thought rose upward like the echoing roar
Of breakers in the silence of the night.
With exultation then we faced the fray,
And confidence that Love is lord of death; —
He came with worldly cunning, stole our faith.
Sowed doubt, — and all the glory pass'd away!
Falk.
[With wild veJiemence.]
Tear, tear it from thy memory! All his talk
Was true for others, but for us a lie!
SVANHILD.
[Sloioly shaking her head.]
The golden grain, hail-stricken on its stalk.
Will never more wave wanton to the sky.
Falk.
[With an outburst of anguish.]
Yes, we two, Svanhild — !
ACT III] LOVE'S COMEDY 467
SVANHILD.
Hence with hopes that snare!
If you sow falsehood, you must reap despair.
For others true, you say ? And do you doubt
That each of them, like us, is sure, alike,
That he's the man the lightning will not strike.
And no avenging thunder will find out,
Whom the blue storm-cloud, scudding up the sky
On wings of tempest, never can come nigh ?
Falk.
The others split their souls on scattered ends:
Thy single love my being comprehends.
They're hoarse with yelling in life's Babel din:
I in this quiet shelter fold thee in.
SVANHILD.
But if love, notwithstanding, should decay,
— Love being Happiness's single stay —
Could you avert, then, Happiness's fall ?
Falk.
No, my love's ruin were the wreck of all.
Svanhild.
And can you promise me before the Lord
That it will last, not drooping like the flower.
But smell as sweet as now till life's last hour?
Falk.
[After a short pause.]
It will last long.
468 LOVE'S COMEDY [act iii
SVANHILD.
[With anguish.]
"Long!" "Long!" — Poor starveling word!
Can "long" give any comfort in Love's need?
It is her death-doom, blight upon her seed.
"My faith is, Love will never pass away" —
That song must cease, and in its stead be heard:
"My faith is, that I loved you yesterday!"
[As wplifted by inspiration.
No, no, not thus our day of bliss shall wane,
Flag drearily to west in clouds and rain; —
But at high noontide, when it is most bright,
Plunge sudden, like a meteor, into night!
Falk.
[In anguish.]
What would you, Svanhild ?
SVANHILD.
We are of the Spring;
No Autumn shall come after, when the bird
Of music in thy breast shall not be heard,
And long not thither where it first took wing.
Nor ever Winter shall his snowy shroud
Lay on the clay-cold body of our bliss; —
This Love of ours, ardent and glad and proud.
Pure of disease's taint and age's cloud,
Shall die the young and glorious thing it is!
Falk.
[In deep pain.]
And far from thee — what would be left of life ?
ACT III] LOVE'S COMEDY 469
SVANHILD.
And near me what were left — if Love depart?
Falk.
A home !
SVANHILD.
Where Joy would gasp in mortal strife.
[Firmly.
It was not given to me to be your wife.
That is the clear conviction of my heart!
In courtship's merry pastime I can lead.
But not sustain your spirit in its need.
[Nearer and with gathering fire.
Now we have revell'd out a feast of spring;
No thought of slumber's sluggard couch come nigh!
Let Joy amid delirious song make wing
And flock with choirs of cherubim on high.
And tho' the vessel of our fate capsize,
One plank yet breasts the waters, strong to save; —
The fearless swimmer reaches Paradise!
Let Joy go down into his watery grave;
Our Love shall yet in triumph, by God's hand.
Be borne from out the wreckage safe to land !
Falk.
O, I divine thee! But — to sever thus!
Now, when the portals of the world stand wide, —
When the blue spring is bending over us,
On the same day that plighted thee my bride!
SVANHILD.
Just therefore must we part. Our joy's torch fire
Will from this moment wane till it expire!
470 LOVE'S COMEDY [act iii
And when at last our worldly days are spent,
And face to face with our great Judge we stand,
And, as a righteous God, he shall demand
Of us the earthly treasure that he lent —
Then, Falk, we cry — past power of Grace to save —
"O Lord, we lost it going to the grave!"
Falk.
[With strong resolve.]
Pluck off the ring !
SVANHILD.
[Withjire.]
Wilt thou ?
Falk.
Now I divine!
Thus and no otherwise canst thou be mine!
As the grave opens into life's Dawn-fire,
So Love with Life may not espoused be
Till, loosed from longing and from wild desire,
It soars into the heaven of memory!
Pluck off the ring, Svanhild!
SVANHILD.
[In rapture.]
My task is done!
Now I have filled thy soul with song and sun.
Forth! Now thou soarest on triumphant wings, —
Forth! Now thy Svanhild is the swan that sings!
[ Takes off the ring and presses a kiss upon it.
To the abysmal ooze of ocean bed
ACT III] LOVE'S COMEDY 471
Descend, my dream! — I fling thee in its stead!
[Goes a few steps back, throws tlie ring into the
fjord, and approacJies Falk with a transfig-
ured expression.
Now for this earthly life I have foregone thee, —
But for the life eternal I have won thee!
Falk.
[Firmly.]
And now to the day's duties, each, alone.
Our paths no more will mingle. Each must wage
His warfare single-handed, without moan.
We caught the fevered frenzy of the age.
Fain without fighting to secure the spoil.
Win Sabbath ea-se, and shirk the six days' toil,
Tho' we are called to strive and to forego.
â– 'O^
SVANHILD.
But not in sickness.
Falk.
No, — made strong by truth.
Our heads no penal flood will overflow;
This never-dying memory of our youth
Shall gleam against the cloud-wrack like the bow
Of promise flaming in its colours seven, —
Sign that we are in harmony with heaven.
That gleam your quiet duties shall make bright —
SVANHILD.
And speed the poet in his upward flight!
472 LOVE'S COMEDY [act iii
Falk.
The poet, yes; for poets all men are
Who see, thro' all their labours, mean or great,
In pulpit or in schoolroom, church or state.
The Ideal's lone beacon-splendour flame afar.
Yes, upward is my flight; the winged steed
Is saddled; I am strong for noble deed.
And now farewell!
SVANHILD.
Farewell !
Falk.
[Einbracing her.]
One kiss!
SVANHILD.
The last!
[Tears herself free.
Now I can lose thee gladly till life's past!
Falk.
Tho' quenched were all the light of earth and sky, —
The thought of light is God, and cannot die.
SVANHILD.
[Withdraiving towards the hackground.]
Farewell! [Goes further.
Falk.
Farewell — gladly I cry again —
[Waves his hat.
ACT III] LOVE'S COMEDY 473
Hurrah for love, God's glorious gift to men!
[TJic door opens. Falk wifhdrmcs to tJie rigJit;
the younger guests come out with merry
laughter.
The Youxg Girls.
A lawn dance!
A Young Girl.
Dancing's life!
Another.
A garland spread
With dewy blossoms fresh on every head!
Several.
Yes, to the dance, the dance !
All.
And ne'er to bed !
[Stiver comes out u-ith Strawman arm in arm.
]Mrs. Strawman a7id the children follow.
Stiver.
Yes, vou and I henceforward are fast friends.
Strawjl^n.
Allied in battle for our common ends.
Stiver.
When the twin forces of the State agree —
Straw^^lvn.
They add to all men's —
474 LO\TE'S COMEDY [act in
Stiver.
I Hastily.]
Gains!
Strawman.
And gaiety.
[Mrs. Halm, Lind, Anna, Guldstad, and
Miss Jay, with the other guests, come out.
All eyes are turned upon Falk and Svanhild.
General amazement when they are seen stand-
ing apart.
Miss Jay.
[Among the Aunts, clasping her hands.]
What! Am I awake or dreaming, pray.''
Lind.
[Who has noticed nothing.]
I have a brother's compliments to pay.
[He, with the other guests, approaches Falk, hut
starts involuntarily and steps back on looking
at him.
What is the matter with you ? You're a Janus
With double face!
Falk.
[Smiling.]
I cry, like old Montanus,^
The earth is flat. Messieurs; — my optics lied;
Flat as a pancake — are you satisfied ?
[Goes quickly out to the right.
* See Notes, page 484.
ACT III]
LOVE'S COMEDY
Miss Jay.
Refused !
The Aunts.
Refused !
475
Mrs. Halm.
Hush, ladies, if you please!
[Goes across to Svanhild.
Mbs. Strawman.
[To Strawman.]
Fancy, refused!
Strawman.
It cannot be!
Miss Jay.
It is!
The Ladies.
[From mouth to moufJi.]
Refused! Refused! Refused!
[They gatJier in little groups about the garden.
Stiver.
[Dumfounded.]
H e courting ? How ?
Strawman.
Yes, think! He laugh'd at us, ha, ha— but now—
[Theij gaze at each other speechless.
476 LOVE'S COMEDY [act iii
Anna.
[To LiND.]
That's good! He was too horrid, to be sure!
LiND.
[Embracing her.]
Hurrah, now thou art mine, entire and whole.
* [They go outside into the garden.
GULDSTAD.
[Looking back towards Svanhild.]
Something is shattered in a certain soul;
But what is yet alive in it I'll cure.
Strawman.
[Recovering himself and embracing Stiver.]
Now then, you can be very well contented
To have your dear Jiancee for a spouse.
Stiver.
And you complacently can see your house
With little Strawmans every year augmented.
Strawman.
[Rubbing his hands luith satisfaction and looking after
Falk.]
Insolent fellow! Well, it served him right; —
Would all these knowing knaves were in his plight T
[They go across in conversation; Mrs. Halm
approaches vrith Svanhild,
ACT ml LOVE'S COMEDY 477
Mrs. Halm.
[Aside, eagerly.]
And nothing binds you ?
SVANHILD.
Nothing.
Mrs. Halm.
Good, you know
A daughter's duty —
SVANHILD.
Guide me, I obey.
Mrs. Halm.
Thanks, child. [Pointing to Guldstad.
He is a rich and comme ilfaut
Parti; and since there's nothing in the way —
SVANHILD.
Yes, there is one condition I require! —
To leave this place.
Mrs. Halm.
Precisely his desire.
Svanhild.
And time —
Mrs. Halm.
How long ? Bethink you, fortune's calling!
478 LOVE'S COMEDY [act iii
SVANHILD.
[With a quiet smile.]
Only a little; till the leaves are falling.
[She goes towards the verandah; Mrs. Halm
seeks out Guldstad.
Strawman.
[Among the guests.]
One lesson, friends, we learn from this example!
Tho' Doubt's beleaguering forces hem us in,
Yet Truth upon the Serpent's head shall trample,
The cause of Love shall win —
Guests.
Yes, Love shall win!
[They embrace and hiss, pair by pair. Outside
to the left are heard song and laughter.
Miss Jay.
What can this mean ?
Anna.
The students!
LiND.
The quartette,
Bound for the mountains; — and I quite forgot
To tell them—
[The Students come in to tlie left and remain
standing at tJie entrance.
A Student.
[To LiND.]
Here we are upon the spot!
ACT III] LOVE'S COMEDY 479
Mrs. Halm,
It's Lind you seek, then ?
Miss Jay.
That's unfortunate.
He's just engaged —
An Aunt.
And so, you may be sure,
ling on a
The Students.
He cannot think of going on a tour.
Engaged !
All the Students.
Congratulations !
Lind.
[To his comrades.]
Thanks, my friends!
The Student.
[To his comrades.]
There goes our whole fish-kettle in the fire!
Our tenor lost! No possible amends!
Falk.
[Coming from the right, in sum,mer suit, with student* s
cap, knapsack and stick.]
I'll sing the tenor in young Norway's choir!
The Students.
You, Falk! hurrah!
480 LOVE'S COMEDY [act iii
Falk.
Forth to the mountains, come!
As the bee hurries from her winter home!
A twofold music in my breast I bear,
A cither with diversely sounding strings,
One for life's joy, a treble loud and clear,
And one deep note that quivers as it sings.
[To individuals among the Students.
You have the palette.? — You the note-book.'^ Good,
Swarm then, my bees, into the leafy wood,
Till at nightfall with pollen-laden thigh.
Home to our mighty mother-queen we fly!
[Turnirig to the company, while the Students
depart and the Chorus of the First Act is
faintly heard outside.
Forgive me my offences great and small,
I resent nothing; — [Softly,
but remember all.
Strawman.
[Beaming tvith happiness i\
Now fortune's garden once again is green!
My wife has hopes, — a sweet presentiment —
[Draws him whispering apart.
She lately whispered of a glad event —
[Inaudible words intervene.
If all goes well ... at Michaelmas . . . thirteen!
Stiver.
\With Miss Jay on his arm, turning to Falk, smiles
triumphantly, and says, pointing to Strawman:]
I'm going to start a household, flush of pelf!
ACT III] LOVE'S COMEDY 481
Miss Jay.
[With an ironical courtesy.]
I shall put on my wedding-ring next Yule.
Anna.
[Similarly, as she takes Lind's arin.\
My Lind will stay, the Church can mind itself —
LiND.
[Hiding his embarrassment.]
And seek an opening in a ladies' school.
Mrs. Halm.
I cultivate my Anna's capabilities —
GULDSTAD.
[Gravely.]
An unromantic poem I mean to make
Of one who only lives for duty's sake.
Falk.
[With a smile to tJie whole company.]
I go to scale the Future's possibilities!
Farewell! [So/Y/y ^o Svanhild.
God bless thee, bride of my life's dawn,
Where'er I be, to nobler deed thou'lt wake me.
[Waves his hat and follows the Students.
SVANHILD.
[Looks after him a moment, then says, softly hut firmly:]
Now over is my life, by lea and lawn,
482 LOVE'S COMEDY [act iii
The leaves are falling; — now the world may take me,
[At this moment the piano strikes up a dance,
and champagne corks explode in the back-
ground. The gentlemen hurry to and fro
with their ladies on their arms. Guldstad
approaches Svanhild and hows: she starts
momentarily, then collects herself and gives
him, her hand. Mrs. Halm and her family,
who have watched the scene in suspense,
throng about them with expressions of rap-
ture, which are overpowered by the music and
the merriment of the dancers in the garden.
[But from the country the folloiving chorus rings
loud and defiant through the dance music:
Chorus of Falk and the Students.
And what if I shattered my roaming bark.
It was passing sweet to be roaming!
Most of the Company.
Hurrah!
[Dance and merriment; the curtain falls.
NOTES
P, 324. William Russcl. An original historic tragedy, founded
upon the career of the ill-fated Lord William Russell, by An-
dreas Munch, cousin of the historian P. A. Munch. It was
produced at Christiania in 1857, the year of Ibsen's return from
Bergen, and reviewed by him in the lUustreret Nyhedshlad for
that year, Nos. 51 and 52. Professor Johan Storm of Chris-
tiania, to whose kindness I owe these particulars, adds that "it
is rather a fine play and created a certain sensation in its time;
but Munch is forgotten."
P. 326. A gray old stager. Ibsen's friend P. Botten-Hansen,
author of the play Hyldrebryllupet.
P. 367. A Svanhild, like the old. In the tale of theVolsungs
Svanhild was the daughter of Sigurd and Gudrun, — the Siegfried
and Kriemhild of the Nihehmgenlied. The fierce king Jor-
munrek, hearing of her matchless beauty, sends his son Randwer
to woo her in his name. Randwer is, however, induced to woo
her in his own, and the girl approves. Jormunrek thereupon
causes Randwer to be arrested and hanged, and meeting with
Svanhild, as he and his men ride home from the hunt, tramples
her to death under their horses' hoofs. Gudrun incites her sons
Sorli and Hamdir to avenge their sister; they boldly enter
Jormunrek's hall, and succeed in cutting off his hands and feet,
but are themselves slain by his men. This last dramatic episode
is told in the Eddie Hamthi^mol.
P. 405. In the remotest east there grows a plant. The germ of
the famous tea-simile is due to Fru Collett's romance. The
OfjiciaVs Davghters. But she exploits the idea only under a
single and obvious aspect, viz., the comparison of the tender
bloom of love with the precious firstling blade which brews the
quintessential tea for the Chinese emperor's table; what the
world calls love being, like what it calls tea, a coarse and
flavourless aftercrop. Ibsen has, it will be seen, given a
number of ingenious developments to the analogy. I know
483
484 NOTES
Fru Collett's work only through the accounts of it given by
Brandes and Jaeger.
P. 448. Another Burns. In the original: Dolen {The Dales-
man), that is A. O. Vinje, Ibsen's friend and literary comrade,
editor of the journal so-called and hence known familiarly by
its name. See the Introduction.
P. 474. Like Old Montanus. The hero of Holberg's comedy
Erasmvs Mountanvs, who returns from foreign travel to his native
parish with the discovery that the world is not flat. Public
indignation is aroused, and Montanus finds it expedient to
announce that his eyes had deceived him, that " the world is flat,
gentlemen."
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